Today's Photo

First lieutenants Jack Norton, 25, of Maine and Paul F. Tanghe, 24, of Minneapolis, said good-bye to a friend Monday at Camp Liberty outside Baghdad.

The two soldiers are returning to Ft. Drum after a year in this war zone. The friend is Chris Torres of the Philippines, who works in the laundry.

Many of those who work support jobs on base -- cooks, cleaners, hairdressers, barbers and others come from countries around the world, drawn by the dream of a steady income.

Chris became a mother figure to the two soldiers.

"The best food I had in Iraq was Filipino food Chris made for us for Christmas dinner,'' Paul said.

The friendship began when Paul spoke to Chris in Tagala, the official language of the Philippines. He learned a bit of the language from his West Point roommate, an officer in the Filipino army who finished first in their class at the military academy.

Paul and Jack are also fast friends, and share an apartment near Ft. Drum, although Paul is transfering soon to Korea, in part to be closer to the Philippines.

The three's friendship grew when they would see each other at Mass at the base chapel.

Paul joked that he saw Chris a lot because he had his laundry done every other day. Jack said he had his laundry done about twice a month.

Chris didn't say much Monday. She giggled and hid in a nearby room as Paul and Jack opened the farewell gifts she got for them.

But Paul said Chris came to Camp Liberty to support her four children after her husand left her. The children stay with her mother.

Here, Chris lives with other foreign workers on base in trailers similar to those the soldiers live in. She does little but work, Paul said.

"She works seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. She never has a day off. She never has a lunch or dinner break. But she's always smiling,'' he said.